Sahyadri Park residents demand action on illegal vendors causing nuisance

Over thirty societies in Sahyadri Park area off Salunke Vihar road are in great trouble due to the chaos created by unauthorised vendors occupying footpaths, blocking entry and exit to Sahyadri Park, unauthorised extensions created by the shopkeepers, lack of police patrolling and many others.

Renuka Suryavanshi

Over forty residents came together to discuss various issues pertaining to the chaos created by shopkeepers who have expanded their shops and given them on lease to other vendors, vegetable and fruit vendors who have occupied the footpaths leaving no space for pedestrians to walk, rickshaws occupying the roads, illegal parking at both the entry points of Sahyadri Park and Salunke Vihar road. We are harassed by the way these people speak to our residents. “

Another resident of Sahyadri Park, and chairman of Sahyadri Park Residents Welfare association Shashi Balhara informed that these people speak very rudely with us if we ask them to leave the area. We have no other way to control them.

The residents met the local Corporator Nanda Lonkar of Prabhag 26 and apprised her of the problems faced by them.
Speaking to Pune Pulse, Ankur Joshi, secretary, Sahyadri Park Residents Welfare association said, “We are troubled due to the mess created by the hawkers on Salunke Vihar road. They are occupying not just the footpath but also often enter the societies when PMC takes action against them.”
The residents suggested that there has to be a permanent place where they must be relocated. The place identified for them on Salunke Vihar road nala park is not utilised by vegetable vendors. They must be shifted there at the earliest and only those with official license issued by PMC should be allowed to operate.

When Pune Pulse spoke to the vegetable vendors they stated that the place identified for us is not maintained. There are snakes, garbage issue, improper lights and the people there are of not good stature.

Nanda Lonkar, Prabhag 26 Corporator when raised the matter said, “The issue has been harassing the residents for a long time. PMC didn’t take any action against the vendors since due to Covid19 pandemic many lost their jobs. So PMC refrained from taking any action but the nuisance is now going beyond control. I shall ensure that post Diwali action is being taken and unauthorised vendors shall be removed from Salunke Vihar road.”
Residents of Salunke Vihar road stated that these vendors often abuse if they are asked to stay away from entry gates of the societies. Senior citizens living in the area are in constant fear of being attacked by them.